On Thursday, January 31, 2013, second-year PCJP student Julia Deixler filed an official request with Governor Brown to release Glenda Jo Virgil, 66, who has served 25 years for killing her physically, mentally, and emotionally abusive partner who, after beating Ms. Virgil for several hours, threatened to kill her to prevent her from leaving him.

Ms. Virgil is wheelchair-bound and in poor health. In September, doctors diagnosed Ms. Virgil with an aggressive form of lung cancer, and earlier this year she suffered four pulmonary embolisms. Ms. Virgil would like to spend the end of her life with her family.

In August, a panel of the Parole Board denied her parole for three more years for smoking cigarettes in prison. However, under California law, the Governor has 30 days to reverse the parole denial.

According to Heidi Rummel, co-director of PCJP, “the law has changed since the Board’s denial and we hope Governor Brown will do the right thing and grant her parole. Virgil has Stage III cancer and her health is rapidly deteriorating.”

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